Workshop to improve ram performance
RAMping Up Repro workshops give sheep and wool producers the skills to improve ram health, performance and longevity in their commercial sheep enterprises.
Rams are a considerable investment for a woolgrowers’ business; with the rams’ performance strongly impacted by management and preparation for joining.
To help ensure that woolgrowers get the most from their rams, AWI in partnership with Zoetis Australia five years ago developed the hands-on RAMping Up Repro ½ day workshop. The half-day workshop is available across the country, in conjunction with leading deliverers, via AWI’s state-based grower extension networks.
AWI National Extension Manager, Emily King, says the RAMping Up Repro workshop is designed to give producers skills across the key components of what drives ram performance, to help improve the profitability of woolgrowers’ enterprises.
“As we all know, rams have an important function, and they require careful management and preparation that starts a few months out from the start of joining. The workshop focuses on timing of preparation of rams, as well as the practical aspects of preparing rams for joining,” Emily said.
“Topics covered include nutrition and body condition, animal health and management, checking the 4Ts (teeth, toes, tackle and testicles), managing shearing, assessing for structural soundness, and all things in between.”
Each participant is guided through a thorough pre-joining ram inspection by an accredited workshop deliverer and given the opportunity to increase their practical skills to undertake this in their own operation. This workshop is designed to give attendees the confidence to incorporate these skills into their own routine management, thus improving the performance of their rams.
AWI’s Ian Evans delivering a RAMping Up Repro workshop to the Loddon Valley BestWool/BestLamb extension group in September at Serpentine in Victoria. The workshop was hosted at Willera Merinos, which also generously provided rams for the pre-joining ram inspections.
More information:
- For more information on the RAMping Up Repro workshop, visit wool.com/workshops
- If you’d like the workshop to be run in your region, contact your state AWI grower extension network and let them know. Contact details are available at wool.com/networks
This article appeared in the December 2023 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine. Reproduction of the article is encouraged.
